Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-27


| One OF these was propelled by twenty four
oars, and most Of the rest sailed. Looking
through the glass we soon made out taat the
row boat was an official vessel her crew being
all dressed IN sort of uniform, while on the
half deck forward stood an old man Of ven
cradle appearance and with a flowing white
beard and sword strapped to his side. who
was evidently the commander OF the craft,
The other boats were apparently occupied by
people brought out by curiosity, and were
rowing or sailing toward us as quickly as they
could.
Now for it, said l. "What is the be,tinot
Are they going 70 be friendly or to out an
end to usan
Nobody could answer this question. and
not liking the warlile appearance Of the ola
gentlemen er1 lis sword, we felt a little
anxious
Just then Good spied school OF Lippopotaini
en- the water about 200 yards Off us, and sue
sested that it would not be bad plan TO inn.
press the natives with a sense of our uower
by shooting some of them if possible. This.
unluckily enough. struck us as a good idea.
and accordingly we at once got out our eight
bore rifles, for which We stu had a few
cartridges left, and prepared for action.
There were fonr OF the animals-a big bull. a
COW, and two young ones one three parts
grown We got up to them without diff
Guilty, the great animals contentng them
selves with sinking down into the water and
rising again few yards farther on; indeed.
their excessive tameness struck me as being
peculiar When the advancing boats were
about 900 yards away Sir Henry opened the
ball by firing at the three parts grown young
one The heavy bullet struck it fair between
the eyes and crashing through the skull,
killed 1T, and IL sank, leaving long train Of
blood behind 1t. At tho Same moment
fired at the cow end Good ut the old bull.
My shot took effect but not fatally, and
down went the hippopotamus with pro-
digious splashing, only to rise again pres
emily blowing and grunting furiously, dye
ing oil the water round her crimson, when /
killed her with the left barrel Good, who
is an execrable shot, missed the head OF the
bull altogether. the bullet merely cutting
the side of his face as it passed On glanc-
ing up, after | had fired my second shot,
perceived that the people We had fallen
among were evidently ignorant of the nature
of fire arms, for the CONSERVATION caused by
our shots, and their effect upon the animals,
was prodigious Some OF the parties In the
boats began TO cry out with fear. others
turned and made Off ms hard as they could;
and even the old gentleman with the sword
looked puzzled and alarmed and halted his
big rowboat We had, however, but little
time for observation, for just then the old
buh, rendered furious by the wound he had
received, rose fair within forty yards of us,
glaring savagely. We all fired and hit him
In various places, and down he went, badly
wounded. Curiosity now began to overcome
the fear Of the onlookers, and some of them
sailed on up close to us, among these being
the man and woman whom we had first seen
a couple of hours or so before. who drew up
almost alongside. Just then the great brute
rose again within ten yards OF their boat and
instantly with roar of fury made at it open
mouthed The woman shrieked and the man
tried to give the boat way, but without sue
cess. In another second saw the huge red
jaws-and cleaning worries close with crunch
on the frail craft, taking an enormous mouth
full out of its side and capsizing it, Down
went the boat, leaving its occupants strug-
Cling in the water Next moment, before we
could do anything toward saving them, the
huge and furious creature was up again and
making open mouthed at the poor girl, who
was struggling in the water. Lifting my
rifle just as the grinding jaws were about to
close on her, | fired over head right down the
commenced turning round and round, snort
ing and blowing red streams of blood through
his nostrils. Before he could recover himself,
however, let him have the other barrel in
the side of the throat, and that finished him.
He never moved or struggled again. but in
stantly sank. Our next effort was directed
toward saving the girl, the man having swum
off toward another boat and in this we
were fortunately successful, pulling her into
the canoe amid the shouts of the SPECTATORS
considerably exhausted and frightened, but
otherwise unhurt.
Meanwhile the boats mad gathered together
at distance, and we could gee that their oc-
cupants who We're evidently much frightened,
were consulting what TO do. Without giving
them time for further consideration which
we thought might result unfavorably to our
selves, we instantly took our paddles and al
vanced towards them, Good standing in the
bow and taking off his cooked hat poli y in
every direction, his amiable features suifused
by bland but intelligent smile. Most of the
craft retreated IA we advanced, but a few
held their ground, while the Zig rowbost
came ON to meet us Presently we were
alongside, and | could see that apr a. pear
ance-and especially Goods and Umslopo-
gaass-flled the venerable lapsSing COM
mander with establishments, not iipmixed with
awe He was dressed after the same fashion
As the man we first met, except that his shirt
was not made Of brown cloth, but Of pure
white linen hemmed with purple The kilt,
however, was identical, and SO were the
thick rings Of gold around the arm al be-
meath the left knee. The rowers wore only a
kilt, their bodies being naked to the waist.
Good took or his hat 10 the oil gentleman
with an extra flourish, and inquired after his
health in the purest English, to which he Ie-
piled by laying the FIRST two fingers OF Ills
right hand horizontally across his lips and
holding them there for a moment, which we
took as his method Of salutation. Then ne
also addressed some remarks Co MS IN the.
same soft accents that bad distinguished our
first interviewer, which We were forced 10
indicate we did at understand by shaking